(KDRTV) – The Independent Electoral Commission (IEBC) has been put in the spotlight over a controversial tweet it made on Wednesday morning.
IEBC referred to BBI as Burning Bridges Initiative, raising a storm on social media over the neutrality of the commission and its commitment to prevail over a free and fair referendum.
The Wafula Chebukati led-commission later issued an apology over the tweet, saying that a typographical error was made inadvertently and that the error does ‘NOT in any way reflect the position of the Commission or its staff.”
Earlier today, the Commission posted a tweet on the launch of the Verification of BBI supporters. However, there was a typographical error in the tweet which was made inadvertently. The error does NOT any in way reflect the position of the Commission or its staff.
— IEBC (@IEBCKenya) December 30, 2020
Despite this clarification, reports have circulated on social media that the IEBC Twitter admin was fired over the incident. Unconfirmed reports stated that the admin’s name is Jonathan Kiprono.
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Royal Media-owned Hot-96 FM first shared news of Kiprono’s dismissal on Twitter. The tweet was later pulled down.
Jonathan Kiprono has since been trending on Twitter with several bloggers claiming that he is 41-years and kin of a Rift Valley lawmaker.
IEBC Twitter admin, Jonathan Kiprono, has been FIRED after he referred to BBI as Burning Bridges Initiative. The 41 year old man from Elgeyo Marakwet County is young brother to West Marakwet constituency Mp, William Kipsang.
— Mr. Kinuthia Pius. (@Belive_Kinuthia) December 30, 2020
KDRTV could not independently verify these claims as IEBC has not issued a public statement on what happened to the employee or whether their name is Jonathan Kiprono. IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati has been in the limelight over his stand on the BBI referendum. Chebukati first wanted a Ksh 14B budget for the referendum. He went ahead to ask for more than Ksh 2000m just for the verification of signatures.
The IEBC twitter admin MUST be fired IMMEDIATELY. This is a mistake that should not be followed by a letter of warning. An independent Commission openly showing bias in an impending referendum can't be tolerated. BBI is not Burning Bridges initiative. The admin must be fired.
— Lord Abraham Mutai (@ItsMutai) December 30, 2020
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The ‘error’ that occurred on Wednesday will further increase the calls for the commission to be disbanded.
